Atlantica - 01.06.2004, Blaðsíða 59

Atlantica: You’ve covered a host of stories on
At. What’s the most bizarre?
Vilhelm Jónsson: Recently we went to the
Swedish Laplands to drive rally cars on ice
with a senile Formula 1 driver. Afterwards, they
dragged this sauna out to the middle of the
lake, and drilled a hole into the ice. The water
wasn’t frozen; it had chunks of ice in it. It was
like taking a bath in a smoothie.
Atlantica: It seems that just about every
Icelander you meet, in addition to their day job,
is also an artist, filmmaker, designer, or a
singer. Why are Icelanders so creative?
VJ: Icelanders are commitment phobic. We
want to keep our options open. Nobody plans
to be, say, a banker their whole life. There’s
also the legacy of the Icelandic Sagas. I
dunno, maybe it’s the water and the Skyr.
Atlantica: If tourists want to purchase
Icelandic music, which CD would you recom-
mend?
VJ: “Rokk í Reykjavík”, the CD from the old
concert back in the 80s.
Atlantica: What’s the most important issue
Icelanders will be facing over the next 20
years?
VJ: Environmental issues. It’s the same all
over the planet. But for us, our economy relies
on fish and tourism. If we lose those then
we’re toast.
Atlantica: What are the three defining char-
acteristics of an Icelander?
VJ: Alcoholics (laughs). We work hard. We
party hard. We’re happy people.
Atlantica: If you could change one thing
about Icelanders, what would it be?
VJ: I’d tell them to stop complaining about the
weather. It’s always been bad. It always will be
bad. If you don’t like it, move (laughs).
Atlantica: The number of tourists visiting
Iceland last year outnumbered the country’s
total population. Why is Iceland such a popular
destination?
VJ: Somebody’s obviously doing a good job
promoting the country. It’s such a beautiful
country. It’s strangely relaxed, but a viciously
fun place to be. The chances are good that if
you sit down with an Icelander on a Saturday
afternoon you’ll wind up drunk with them on a
Sunday.
Atlantica: If friends from abroad were to visit
Iceland for the first time, what three places
would you take them?
VJ: To the West Fjords. But I’d start by taking
them downtown – get them to the pub. Then
we’d go up north to Lake Mývatn.
Atlantica: Finish this sentence: The one thing
that would make Iceland a better place to live
is...
VJ: Another big town in the north. It’d be nice
if Akureyri grew to about 50,000 people. And I
don’t want to complain, but maybe some better
weather – a little less wind.
Atlantica: It’s a Saturday night. Where are
you headed?
VJ: Whatever way the wind blows; where the
most noise is.
Compiled by Edward Weinman.
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56 A T L A N T I C AL I Q&A
The Atlantica
INQUIS IT ION
Not only does he co-host one of Iceland’s most-watched TV
shows, the life-style youth program “At”, Vilhelm (Villi) Anton
Jónsson also fronts the popular band, 200,000 Naglbítar (Nail
Pliers). The former philosophy student sits down with
Atlantica magazine.
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